Aidan Murphy

Junior studying marketing and sales.



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NIL decision affects all athletes

By Ashley Libertoff, Ben Jaffe, Aidan Murphy

Pads crack and the sound of players running can be heard all throughout the football facility. As the sun bakes down onto the practice fields there is a group of athletes that may go unnoticed. This group is known as the preferred walk-on group. While football teams do give out large amounts of scholarships, there are players that may have just missed the cut. This group is given a designation of preferred walk-on. They have a space on the team however, they do not get a scholarship. While all of these players may not have the same scholarship opportunities, they do still fight for one form compensation, NIL.

 

NIL is a new set of rules within college athletics that allows athletes to get paid for their personal brand. These rules have changed the way athletes are recruited, choose schools, and even play on the field. Often the NIL money that schools and collectives give out goes to the high market sports and within that, the best players often get more money.

 

With the growth of NIL there has been large amounts of coverage on what this does to the “stars” of the team. However, what goes unnoticed is the effect that these rulings have on this preferred walk-on group. These athletes often are backups and may go unknown but they often make up the majority of the team.

Reece Lozano fights for his spot on the team. Like many other walk ons nothing is guaranteed. Photo from: Reece Lozano

Reece Lozano is one of these preferred walk-ons for the Indiana University football team. When asked about the NIL opportunities he receives he said “I’ve been able to partner with local businesses for social media promotions, which has not only helped me financially but also boosted my personal brand.” Lozano talked about the difference between not only the size of the deals given to him, but also the difficulties that are associated with trying to get NIL deals as a preferred walk-on. We asked Lozano about these difficulties and he responded saying “There is a steep learning curve in understanding contracts and following NCAA and school regulations.” This isn’t an issue that only affects preferred walk-ons at the large schools such as Indiana University, this is an issue for athletes at all levels and in all sports.

Dr Flavio speaks with C250 class about the recent changes and impacts of NIL. His expertise shows as he goes beyond just what you may find on the internet.
Photo by Mike Badrov

In a press conference style discussion with Dr Galen Clavio he said “These athletes can no longer be referred to as simply student athletes, their title now is way more complex.” The discussion of athletes no longer having the title of student athletes is a large statement. For preferred walk-on athletes academics is a large part of being a college athlete. Lozano talked about the balance of not only school and athletics, but also NIL saying “Time management is crucial. I maintain a strict schedule and prioritize my tasks. Utilizing campus resources like tutoring and academic advising helps me stay on track academically, while coordinating closely with my coaches helps me meet my athletic commitments.” These new elements have turned athletes into so much more than just student athletes. In many ways they have become professionals, needing teams around them and assistance with media and NIL opportunities.

 

While NIL can have large benefits the toll that it can take on these preferred walk-ons is very real. This means that athletes have to prioritize the deals that are best for them. Especially in the position of the preferred walk-on, you need to make sure these deals are rewarding beyond just the financials. Lozano discussed the deals he found most beneficial saying, “Local endorsements and social media promotions have been the most beneficial for me. These deals are more accessible and manageable, and they help build relationships within the community. Hosting camps and training sessions has also been rewarding both financially and personally.”

 

With NIL being ever changing, there are many possibilities for where it can go in the future. “With new settlements, schools will be given more structure in their NIL payments. Each school will be given a set amount to pay out to their players,” said Dr Clavio. With the state NIL is in right now it is clear that more restrictions will be put into place to make sure that all athletes are paid out fairly by the schools. “I believe NIL opportunities will continue to expand, with more structured support from schools and athletic programs. We might see more guidelines and resources to help athletes work through the complications of NIL deals,” said Lozano when asked about the future of NIL. College athletics is ever changing and at its core the players come first. As NIL continues to progress and grow it can only help players, especially the preferred walk-ons.

Bloomington residents touch on NIL, giving their opinions on the amount these athletes are getting paid

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Public Relations Story

Tim Cook reveals new Apple Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts
Aidan Murphy
Finley Bisch
Brooke Daugherty

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) —Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the release of the brand-new Apple Watch Series 1 with an introductory video on Tuesday at the Apple Event in Cupertino, California.

After the video played, Cook took to the stage again, proudly displaying the new watch. In his introduction, Cook emphasized his excitement for the new product that Apple claims will revolutionize the way watches are used. The audience met Cook with applause and a standing ovation when he returned to the stage wearing the new Apple watch. This enthusiasm carried on throughout Kevin Lynch’s demonstration of the various features the new watch will possess. The audience was thoroughly impressed with Lynch’s presentation of the numerous new features as they praised the new watch with cheers and more applause.

Mike Wells talks to his class
Professor Mike Wells uses his Apple Watch to remind him to stand between teaching his classes. This Apple exercise feature was created to combat the sedentary lifestyle that many struggle with.

 

In Cook’s introduction he also explained why Apple believes the new Apple Watch is the best watch in the world. He described the accuracy of the watch and discusses how each watch will be customizable from customer to customer. “It’s incredibly customizable, so you can find one that reflects your personal style and taste,” Cook said. He also outlined the importance of connecting with other through the use of the Apple Watch and discussed the watch’s role in tracking health and fitness. Once Cook gave an overview of the watch’s attributes, he took time to explain one of the watch’s main features, which is the digital crown. The digital crown allows for scrolling, zooming in and out, and adjusting the screen without obstructing the view of the face with your fingers. Cook compared this new innovation to other user interfaces Apple has made over the years, such as the mouse for the Mac as well as the touch screen on the iPhone. “We placed extra functionality on a mechanism that’s been on the watch for decades,” Cook said.  After he gave a comprehensive introduction to the product, Cook displayed another video, this time narrated by Apple’s Senior VP of Design, Jony Ive.

The video went more in-depth about the aesthetic aspects of the watch. Ive gave the audience a glimpse into what Apple had in mind when designing the watch. He not only explained the design of the Apple watch, he emphasized the correlation of its design with functionality. “In addition to the digital crown, we’ve had to invent other input technologies designed specifically for a product this small,” Ive said. “So, as well as sensing touch, the display also senses force.” Ive described solutions to obstacles that the design team had to face when making a product much smaller than usual. Another large part of the watch that was kept in mind during the design process was the communication aspect. The watch features easy and quick communication between Apple watch users and others. The video also went into detail about the different types of wrist straps, as well as disclosing that there would be three different collections of the Apple Watch. Not only would they be releasing the line of the Apple Watch itself, but also collections called Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition. Once the second video concluded, Vice President of Apple, Kevin Lynch was called up to give the first live demonstration of the Apple Watch.

 

man running with apple watch on
Spencer Anderson, freshman, uses his Apple Watch to train for an upcoming marathon. The Apple Exercise feature provides mile splits that help him stay on pace to reach his goal.

 

Lynch continued to demonstrate the various aspects of the watch. He tested out many applications that are pre downloaded on the watch and are also used on other Apple products such as iMessage, Apple Maps, and Apple Music. Lynch emphasized that when designing the watch, they want to make the applications easily accessible. “Now we thought a lot when we were designing Apple Watch about how to really reveal all of the great ecosystem of applications on this device,” Lynch said. “And we wanted to build in a way that was really easy to find and use.” Lynch went into depth about the Health app and other various fitness aspects that come with the watch. Fitness and health tracking are an important aspect of the new product. When Lynch’s demonstration had concluded, Cook returned to the stage for the last time to introduce two new applications that have been added to the watch, the first being the fitness app and the second being the workout app. Cook explained that these apps were created with leading a healthier lifestyle in mind. He then gave some logistical information about the watch’s price which starts at 349 dollars, and its intended release date, which is set for early 2015. Cook closed the presentation by telling the audience how excited Apple is to launch its new product. “It’s something functional yet incredibly beautiful. It empowers people and enriches their lives. Apple Watch is the most personal device Apple has ever created.” Cook said.

Join Tim Cook as he highlights the Apple Watch’s new amazing health features! See how it encourages users to take charge of their well-being.

Tim Cook shares Apple’s mission to create the best watch in the world, combining personalization, customization, and lightning-fast responsiveness. Watch to see what truly sets Apple apart.

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